2022 has definitely been an eventful year for our family. Our oldest daughter got engaged, graduated from college, got married and moved out of state. Our oldest son needed his driver’s license, so we worked with him to help him get his license. Our youngest son graduated from high school and went off to college. Our youngest daughter needed extensive dental work, including oral surgery, just weeks before her sister’s wedding. Add in a couple of trips across the county, one out of the country and a ladies’ conference to plan and prepare for….yes, this has been a busy year for us! To say that I was having trouble seeing straight at times would be an understatement!

After the last “major” event at the beginning of October, I was looking forward to everything getting back to normal. I was so incredibly grateful to God. He had been there every step of the way-- guiding, strengthening, comforting, helping. He had helped me through some of the busiest, most emotional months of my life! Praise God!! Now the rest of 2022 would be calm and uneventful…or so I thought.

I woke up in the middle of the night in pain. Long story short, I ended up in the emergency room later that morning and by the evening I had been admitted to the hospital. On the second morning at the hospital, I woke up feeling discouraged. How could this happen to me? I just wanted to be home so I could get everything back in order and get on with a normal routine! I opened the blinds in my room and gazed out at the beautiful scenery. There were trees with beautiful fall-colored leaves and a line of gently sloping hills all against the backdrop of stormy clouds in the sky. It was breathtaking! Immediately, Psalm 121 came to mind:

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

My loving Father spoke to me. He asked me where my eyes were looking. Were they looking at me for the answers? Were my eyes looking at the doctors and nurses to provide solutions? Or were they looking on Him…the Author and Finisher of my faith? What were my eyes seeing? The wonderful, but exhausting months that I had just come through (the past) or the plan that He had for me at this very moment (the present)? Did my eyes see only that I was somewhere I did not want to be, or could my eyes see the opportunity He was putting before me? As I sat there alone in my hospital room, looking at the hills, I was reminded that I was not alone. God was there with me. As I spoke to the various nurses and doctors, I knew God was right there by my side, helping me know what I should say and do.

Recently, I heard a sermon illustration about a bee. It was said that if you put a bee in the bottom of a glass jar, the bee will never fly out. Why? Because the bee never looks up to realize that the way out is right above him. I think that all too often, I am the same way. When I face problems, I tend to look around for answers, but forget to look up for His answer. I am so thankful that my Father is a “very present” help. (Psalm 46:1) He’s right there---every step of the way---even when I don’t realize it. He promises me in His Word that He will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5-6). The key is that I lift up my eyes. I need to turn my eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face! When I do, the things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. When days are dreary…look up! When the long nights are weary….look up! Jesus cares! When the sun is shining….

look up! When you heart is pining….look up! Look up to find the Help that we need each and every day! Look up to the Father! Look up!!

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1